Cercidoideae is a subfamily in the pea family, Fabaceae. Well-known members include Cercis (redbuds), including species widely cultivated as ornamental trees in the United States and Europe, Bauhinia, widely cultivated as an ornamental tree in tropical Asia, and Tylosema , a semi-woody genus of Africa. The subfamily occupies a basal position within the Fabaceae and is supported as monophyly in many molecular phylogenies. (2025). 184246017X, Royal Botanic Gardens. 184246017X
At the 6th International Legume Conference, the Legume Phylogeny Working Group proposed elevating the tribe Cercidae to the level of subfamily within the Leguminosae (Fabaceae). The consensus agreed to the change, which was fully implemented in 2017. It has the following clade-based definition:
The most inclusive crown clade containing Cercis canadensis L. and Bauhinia divaricata L. but not Poeppigia procera C.Presl, Duparquetia orchidacea Baill., or Bobgunnia fistuloides (Harms) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersema.
Many genera show unique
palynology.
Genera
Cercidoideae comprises the following genera
organized into tribes:
Cercideae
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Adenolobus (Harv. ex Benth. & Hook.f.) Torre & Hillc.
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Cercis L.
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Griffonia Baill.
Bauhinieae
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Barklya F. Muell.
-
Bauhinia L.
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Brenierea Humbert
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Cheniella R.Clark & Mackinder
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Gigasiphon Drake
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Lysiphyllum (Benth.) deWit
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Phanera Lour.
(includes Lasiobema (Korth.) Miq.)
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Piliostigma Hochst.
-
Schnella Raddi
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Tournaya A.Schmitz
-
Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc.
Extinct
Phylogeny
Phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:
Notes
External links